Chapter 14 (Longer Chapter)

The Bean, Millennium Park, Chicago Illinois 

The walk to Millennium Park didn't take Sierra long even with a brief stop to grab something to eat from one of the local food trucks in the park. Sierra ended up getting a small bowl of chili, she ate on her way over to the bean statue. 

Sierra looked around noticing Morgan pretty quickly considering the park wasn't very busy during the winter and they were a couple of weeks into the new year. "Hey Rhodes, how are you?" Morgan asks as she walks over instantly pulling her into a hug. "I'm doing good, I had another follow up with my Doctor today," Sierra replied as they let go of the hug. "Is everything okay?" Morgan asked trying to cover the worry in his voice, Sierra nodded. "I'm recovering very well, I'm still supposed to take it easy for a bit, but hopefully I can come back to work soon," Sierra replied. 

"How's everything going with the team?" Sierra asked him, "Good, wanna go for a walk?" Morgan asked instantly changing the subject. "Sure," Sierra replied as the two agents made their way through the park talking for a little over an hour until the sun started to go down. "I should probably get going I gotta pick up a pizza on the way home Desiree's cooking lasagna," Morgan joked about his sister's cooking with a light laugh. "Yeah, I should get back before Connor starts to get worried," Sierra replied "Say hey to the team for me and let them know I'll be back soon, and that I miss them," she added earning a chuckle and nod from Morgan. "I'll let them know," he replied. 

The two agents gave each other a hug before they both started to leave and Morgan noticed Sierra was heading back through the park. "Rhodes," he called out causing her to pause and look at him, "You're walking back?" he said more than asked as she just nodded confused. The moment she said yes he walked over to her, "Then I'm walking you back to your brothers," he simply said before they started walking through the park and up east 9th Street. 

Connor Rhode's Penthouse, Astoria Tower, Chicago Illinois 

Morgan walked Sierra all the way back to her brother's building and all the way up to the door to the penthouse. "Thanks for walking me back," Sierra told her partner as they stood in the hall. "Anytime," Morgan replied. The agents gave each other a hug before, Sierra made her way into the penthouse and Morgan disappeared in the elevator to the lobby. 

"Si, that you?" Connor called from the kitchen when the door shut behind her. "Yeah," she called back as she kicked her shoes, coat, and hat off hanging them up in the closet by the front door. "How was Millenium Park? and Morgan?" Connor asked as Sierra made her way into the kitchen being greeted by the smell of Chicken Carbonara. "Morgan's good and the park was pretty quiet today... That smells so good," Sierra added as she took a seat on a bar stool next to the island counter. 

Connor smiled, "I'm making Chicken Carbonara, Maggie mentioned that Jay drove you home," her brother said more than asked. Sierra glanced at her brother who was sending her a look. the same look he had when he thought she was into someone when they were growing up. "Yeah," was all she said about the subject. Connor raised an eyebrow in her direction, "Okay, what's that look for," she finally asked after he turned his focus back on cooking. 

"Are you really gonna make me say it?" he asked looking at her. "Say what?" Sierra asked confused. "You and Jay... It's really obvious you two are into each other," Connor said looking at Sierra who scoffed rolling her eyes. "Why is it so hard for everyone to believe, we're just friends..." Sierra said with a sigh. Her older brother stayed quiet but sent her a look, "Because we all have eyes, and we see the way you look at each other, not to mention he barely left your side when you were in the hospital," Connor said before he pulled a couple of plates out of the cabinet. 

Sierra sighed, "He stayed because we're friends..." she argued as her brother set the Chicken Carbonara on the two plates. The siblings brought their plates over to the kitchen table and sat down to eat. Sierra went over what Dr. Halstead said at her appointment, after they finished eating Sierra cleaned up the dishes and both Connor and Sierra ended up on the couch watching the Black Hawks game. 

Later that night around 11 both Connor and Sierra called it a night and made their way to their rooms. Sierra ended up sitting on the edge of the bed looking at the photo Jay gave her when he dropped her off. She ended up staring at it for almost an hour thinking about not just what Connor said but also JJ, Penelope, and Emily.  With a sigh, she set the photo on the nightstand next to her bed, turned the lights off, and fell asleep. 

After what felt like seconds Sierra woke up from a familiar nightmare, the day she and her unit got ambushed and she ended up abducted. Sitting up she let out a shaky breath, "It was just a dream, Sierra," she told herself softly as she pushed herself from the bed and made her way out of the guest room. 

The kitchen was empty when Sierra got there, but noticed a note on the counter. She walked over picked up the note and read it. 

'Hey, I got called into the Hospital. There's leftovers in the fridge if you get hungry, I'll see you later when I get home. - Connor'

Sierra set the note back down on the counter and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She looked at the coffee maker but ultimately decided to take a shower, get dressed, and get coffee from a cafe up the street since she wanted a muffin or a croissant. 

It didn't take Sierra long to shower and change into a pair of black skinny jeans, and a black long-sleeve Washington DC sweater. She threw her jacket over top of her sweater and threw her leather boots on. Sierra took her, phone, the penthouse key, and the building key before she left. 

Le Petit Cafe, Chicago Illinois

The walk to the cafe only took Sierra 5 minutes, but with the cold brisk winter morning, the walk felt like forever. 'Why did I decide to leave the warm penthouse to go into the cold?' she asked herself as she made her way into the small warm cafe. 

The cafe was busy with people rushing to grab their morning coffee before work as Sierra got in line. There were two baristas taking orders so the line was going by fast, "Can I help whose next?" a barista called from behind the counter. "Morning, can I get a large French vanilla latte with whipped cream, and... a cheese croissant please," Sierra asked. "Alright, it'll be ready for you at the end counter there," the barista replied without asking her to pay. "How much do I owe you?" she asked only to have the barista shake her head. "It's been covered, by the gentleman over there," she replied nodding to a man waiting at the pick up counter. 

When Sierra looked over at him he smiled and waved at her, Sierra made her way over to the man with bright blue eyes, blonde hair poking out from under his beanie. "Thank you for coving my order, you didn't have to do that though," Sierra said. He sent her a smile, "I know, I figured a beautiful woman like yourself shouldn't have to buy herself coffee. I'm Liam," he said holding his hand out for her. "Sierra," she said as their orders were called, "I'm in Chicago for business for a couple of days, I'd love to take you out to dinner before I leave," Liam said as he wrote down his number on a napkin and handed it to her before he sent her a smile and left the cafe. 

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Hey everyone I hope you liked this chapter, let me know what your thoughts on Liam are so far? Also in the next couple of chapters, I'm hoping to have Sierra return to work with the BAU. I'm going to try to get chapter 15 out to you at some point today if not chapter 15 will be posted tomorrow (Sunday, March 24th, 2024) 

Thank you all for the love and support on this story so far! 

-Muskokagirl204